Folding coop.



M. WALTER.

FOLDING COOP. APPLICATION FILED sIsPT. s, 1909.

Patented Oct. 24, 191 1.

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M. WALTER.

FOLDING GOOP. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 8. 1909.

Patented 0015.24, 1911.

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M. WALTER.

FOLDING COOP. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. a, 1909.

1,006,991 Patented Oct. 24, 1911.

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MICHAEL WALTER, 0F TYLERSBURG", PENNSYLVANIA.

FOLDING COOP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 24C, 1911.

Application led September 8, 1909. Serial No. 516,791.

may be folded or collapsed into compact shape for return shipment, thuseecting an important saving in shipping charges as well as in storageroom.

vOne object of the present invention is to provide a collapsiblecoopwhich may readily be completely unfolded to enable it to bethoroughly cleansed when necessary.

A further object of the invention is to provide a folding or collapsiblecoop which may be completely inverted so as to present the cleansurfaces of the wall members inward when desired.

Still further objects of the invention are to simplify and improve thegeneral construction and operation of this class of devices.

With these and other objects in view which will readily appear asthenature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in theimproved construction and novel arrangement and combination of partswhich will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed outin the claims.

In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple andpreferred'form of the invention; it being however, understood that nolimitation is necessarily madre to the precise structural detailstherein exhibited, but that changes, alterations and modificationswithin the scope of the invention may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a coopconstructed in accordance with the invention set up ready for use. Fig.2 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is aperspective view showing the coop or crate folded for storage ortransportation. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view of thedevice as seen in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical sectionalview of the device as seen in Fig. 3.- Fig. 6 is a detail plan viewshowing a portion of the bottom member or floor member of the structure.Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view showing a coop of somewhatmodiiied construction, folded and in inverted position. Fig. 8 is atransverse sec- 60 tionalview showing said coop extended or unfolded.Fig. 9 is a plan view showing the bottom of said coop detached.

Corresponding parts in the several figures vare denoted by likecharacters of reference.

The improved crate or coop comprises in its construction a bottom pieceor ioor member A, walls or side members B, end members C-C and a topwhich is composed of two wings or members D-D The floor or bottom memberA may be constructed of planking of any suitable dimensions, but` theside walls, the end members and the top members are preferably composedof frames illed with slats set at suitable distances apart to affordfree ventilation and at the same time to safely confine the fowls thatare to be shipped in the coop. The slats may be disposed vertically, inthe side walls and end members, and transversely of the crate, as shownin the top members, or said slats may be disposed lengthwise of thestructure, when preferred. It will also be understood that wires or wirenetting may be utilized in the construction of the side walls as well asof the end and top members, such construction being well known andunderstood in the art.

The bottom or Hoor member A is provided adjacent to its side and endedges with vertically disposed staples 10 consisting of elone gatedloops that are oifset from the side and end edges of the floor memberand which project beyond the faces ofl said floor member. The edges ofthe floor member may be provided with'notches, as clearly shown at 11for the accommodation of the loops or staples which latter will thus bein a measure protected. The side walls B and the end walls C arehingedly connected with the floor member by means of eyes 12 slidablyengaging the loops or staples, and the side members B are providedadjacent to their free edges with similar loops or staples 13 thatproject beyond the opposite faces of said side members and with whichthe top members D are hingedly connected by means of eyes 14: slidablyengaging the loops or staples 13.

The two faces of the iioor member A are provided with supporting memberswhich are preferably in the nature of wheels or casters 15 whereby thesaid Hoor member, no matter which side is uppermost, will be supported asufiicient distance above the ground to prevent the ends of the loops orstaples 10 from touching the ground. The wheels or casters 15 will thusnot only support the iioor of the coop from direct contact with theground and enable the coop to be readily shifted from one position toanother, but they will also serve to prevent injury to the loops orstaples 10 by contact with the ground. This is regarded as an importantand advantageous feature in view of the fact that the coop, when filledwith fowls, lwill be so heavy that the loops or staples 10 unlessprotected, would be in danger of collapsing.

The end members C of the' coop are made of suoli dimensions that whenthe coop is set up for use, the end edges of said end members will abutupon the inner faces of the side walls of the coop which will thus besecurely braced. The top members D are made of such dimensions that whenthe coop ris set up, and said side members are folded in the directionof each other, their free edges will abut upon each other as will beclearly seen in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. Each side face of eachend member C is provided with a suitable handle 16 whereby the coop maybe manipulated when it is set up for use;V said handles being preferablyconstructed in such a manner that when not in actual use it will foldagainst the faces of the end members. j

The side walls or-side members B of the coop are each provided with asliding door 17 through which access may be had to the interior of thecoop; said doors being preferably arranged adjacent to opposite ends ofthe coop in order that, when a partition is used, the two ends of thecoop may be equally accessible.

The Hoor or bottom member A of the coop is provided with a longitudinalslot or aperture 18 provided adjacent to its ends with bearings 19wherein the pintles 20 at the ends of a cylindrical trough 21 aremounted for rotation; said cylindrical trough being provided with a slot22 and with a partition 23 forming compartments for the reception offeed and water respectively. The cylindrical trough 21 has a cylindricalcover 24: which is provided with a slot or aperture 25; the cylinder 24,when rotated upon its axis, will obviously obstruct the slot or aperture22 in the cylindrical trough. The trough 21 is provided adjacent to oneend with a ratchet wheel 26 engaged by a spring pawl 27 which ispivotally connected with one end of a lever 28 which is fulcrumed in aconveniently accessible position; it will be seen that by manipulatingthe lever 28 the trough 21 may be gradually rotated within the closure24 until the slot 22 is obstructed.

The cylindrical closure 211 is provided adjacent to one end with a bevelgear 29 mesh-V ing with a pinion 30 upon a shaft 31 having aconveniently accessible crank 32 whereby it may be rotated, thusrotating the cylindrical closure upon its axis to obstruct the slot 22or to bring the latter into registry with the slot 25 of the closure, asmay be required.

It willbe readily seen from the foregoing description taken inconnection with the drawings hereto annexed, that the floor or bottommember A may be placed upon the ground either side uppermost, and thatin either position of the floor member, the side and end members maybefolded upward to constitute the side and end walls of the crate orcoop after which the top members may be folded down torest upon theupper edges of the end members. Vhen thus arranged, the top members maybe secured by means of rods 33 extending transversely therethrough andhaving terminal hooks Stwhich may be turned upward to abut upon theouter edges of the top members. It is also preferred to provide theedges of the end members with prongs or spurs as will be best seen at 35in Fig. 1 of the drawings to engage recesses or sockets 36 formed in theproximate members for the purpose of securing the device againstaccidental collapsing. It will thus appear that the improved coop orcrate is not merely collapsible but that it is reversible as well, thetwo surfaces of the component parts being capable of being alternatelyexposed outwardly. It will also appear that when the coop or crate isinverted the feed tray or trough may be likewise inverted so as topresent the slot or feed aperture in an rupward direction, and thatsuchreversal may be effected without waste of any of the contents by movingthe cylindrical cover to a closed position prior to inverting orrotating the feed trough upon its axis. Many other uses and advantageswill readily suggest themselves to those familiar with the use of thisclass -of devices.

When it is desired to fold or collapse the coop for storage or shippingpurposes, the end walls or end members C`-C are folded upon the floormember, after first raising the top members D4D; the latter are foldeddown upon the outer surfaces of the side members, and the latter arethen folded down upon the end members, being thereby elevated to aposition where the feed trough will not obstruct. The supporting membersconsisting of the wheels or casters will be placed in such a position asto t between the slats of the side and top members which latter may alsobe provided with notches or slots for the accommodation of the wheels orcasters.

In Figs. 7, 8 and 9 there has been illustrated a somewhat modiedconstruction of the improved coop whereby the same may be manufacturedat less expense, and will be serviceable for short shipments. Under thismodified form the bottom of the coop, here designated K is composed of arectangular frame 61 with which the side and end members of the walls,here designated If-L and lVI-M are connected substantially in the mannerherein described by means of staples 62 which however, extend in anupward direction only from the bottom frame 6l. The latter carries areversible platform 63 which is mounted pivotally upon the pinions orpivots 64 at the inner end, said platform being normally held inalinement with the frame by means of spring actuated pins 65 extendingthrough the sides of the frame and adapted to engage notches or recessesin the side edges of the platform. One side of the latter is providedwith wheels or casters 66 which, when the coop is extended for use,serve to support the entire weight of the coop and contents; when thecoop is 'folded for shipment, the bottom is first reversed by rotatingit upon its axis, thus bringing the supporting wheels or casters withinthe coop structure where they will be protected by the wall members whenthe latter are folded. This form of coop being particularly intended forshort shipments thus not required to be equipped with a feed and watertrough, and none has been shown in the figures of the drawings relatingto this form of the invention.

Having thus described the invention,what is claimed isl. In a foldingcoop, a iioor member, elongated loops secured adjacent to and offsetfrom the edges of the floor member and projecting beyond the two facesof the latter, side and end members having eyes hingedly and slidablyengaging said loops, and top members hingedly connected with the sidemembers adjacent to the free edges of the latter.

2. In a collapsible coop, a floor member having elongated loops securedadjacent to and offset from the edges and projecting beyond the twofaces of said floor member, side and end wall members having eyeshingedly and slidably engaging said loops, and supporting memberssecured upon the two faces of the floor member and consisting of wheelsor casters whereby said floor member may be supported, either sideuppermost, at a height above the ground exceeding the length of theprojecting portions of the loops.

3. A collapsible and reversible coop comprising a reversible floormember, supporting members upon the two faces of said iioor member,loops offset from the edges of the floor member andprojecting beyond thetwo faces of the latter, side and end wall members having eyes slidablyengaging the loops, elongated loops upon the edges of the side wallmembers which are remote from the side edges of the bottom member, andtop members hingedly and slidably coniected with the loops of the sidewall memers.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MICHAEL VALTER.

Witnesses:

J. K. ALT, C. B. KING.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C.

